Portable loader



w. c. STEINMETZ 2,387,189

PORTABLE LOADER Oct. 16, 1945.

, Filed April 29, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 1 2 b wmm HTT Y Q3 I I MLrEeC rEw/werz, v 7

Oct. 16, 1945. w c E ETZ 2,387,189

- PORTABLE LOADER Filed April 29, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 16, 1945. c. STEINMETZ PORTABLE LOADER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 29, 1944 I N V EN TOR. E VVALTEE C STEINMETZ,

Patented Oct. 16, 1945 PORTABLE LOADER Walter C. Steinmetz, Columbus, Ohio, assig'nor to The Jeflrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio Application April 29, 1944 Serial No. 533,344

This invention relates to a portable loader or conveyor of the general type now commonly employed in coal yards.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved loader of the above mentioned type. H

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a loader of the above mentioned type in which the wheels can be pivoted or swiveled about stub axles or spindles which are mounted on king pins or bolts which remain in a vertical position for all positions of adjustment of the loader boom. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide improved construction of a loader in which both the mast and strut are pivotallyconnected tothe wheel and axle assembly along a pivotal axis which is below and preferably lies in the same vertical plane as the axis of the wheels.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a loader with an axle assembly or an axle assembly alone for a loader in whichthe wheels are mounted upon pivot or swivel spindles and are constructed so that as the wheels are swiveled they rotate substantially on a point. i

A further object of the invention is toprovide an improved axle assembly for a loader.

Other objects of the invention will appearhereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the device of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front view showing particularly the wheel and axle assembly together with the lower part of the mast of the loader of my invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged'front view, with parts in section showing approximately one-half of the axle and wheel assembly; I

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. .4 except thatthe wheel has been removed and the spindle has been rotated approximately 90 de-.,

er e Y a Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation and sectional view with parts broken-away showing particularly the manner of mounting-the mast and the strut on the axle assembly together with certain details of the wheel and axle and associated parts; Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the stabilizer; and Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a detail. I This application is a 'continuationin .partof my application, Serial No. 505,180, for a Portable loader, filed October 6, 19,43, and nowabandoned.

Referring particularly ,-to Figs. ,1' and .2Uof the 9 C1aims. (01. 198-5233) drawings, the portable loader or conveyor of my invention includes a main frame or boom Ill which is essentially of construction well known in this art. and-which supports an endless conveyor belt or chain and flight type of conveyor mechanism II which extends between a foot equivalent drive mechanism 1 5. The motor 14 isshaft assembly I2 and ahead or discharge shaft assembly !3. s The conveyormechanism I I is driven from-amotor M, which is illustrated as an electric motor, by way ofachainand sprocket or mounted on a platform above the boom 10 as clearly-illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Adjacent the upper ordischarge end of the boom Ill there is an adjustable chute l6- for guiding the discharging materialinto a truck or the like.

The-conveyor or loader is of the unstable type in'that. the lower or foot end normally rests upon I the ground and in operation is generally placed adjacent a pile of material such as coal which is to be elevatedinto a truck or the like. 'The center portion of the boom I0 is supported by means of a strut l! which may be in the form of apair of interconnected 1aterally spaced pipes pivotally connected at their tops to appropriate brackets 18 rigidly attached to a bottom membenofthe-boom l0. Each of thepipes of the strut lLatitsbottom is provided with anintegral' bifurcated bracket I9 which is pivotally connected by a pin' 20 to a downwardly extending bracket;2lformed by a pair 'of spaced angle members, the'tops of which are rigidly connected, as by welding, to an axle frame 22. which forms the principal part of an axle assembly. Said axle frame 22 isformed by, a pair of facing channel membera'as clearly-illustrated in Fig. f the drawings,1which preferably have their contacting edges'welded together and also, at least in part, are interconnected by. top and bottom plates 23 also preferably welded -to the channelmembersqofsaid'axle frame 22. The tops of the bracketsll, are preferablywelded to the axle frame; 22 and form an important part of the complete axlejassembly. A mast 2 4 is also provided and it is formed of a pair of spaced pipes preferably interconnected by across pipe .25. Each of the pipes of the mast 24 is provided at itsbottom with ai bifurcated bracket 16 which is also pivoted tojthe .DinZll and whichjextends withirrthe aforedescribed bracket, l9. It is thus to be seen thatboth the strut -l1 and the mast 24 are pivoted along a common horizontal axis and the position of this axis, which is an impor- I 29 is a wheel 34.

At each end of the axle frame 22 there is a spindle supporting bottom plate2l and top plate 28, both of which are welded to said axle frame 22 to provide a spindle bracket. Pivoted or swiveled on each bracket 21, 28 is a spindle or stub axle 29 which is swiveled or pivoted on a king pin or bolt 30. The base of the spindle 29 is providedewith arr-integral arm 3l -adaptedtore ceive a rbpltisl fillditb fbe positipnedfinq either of two positions, determined by the holes 33 po- 10 sitioned approximately but not exactly 90 de.-; grees apart and formed in the bottom plate 2'l. Mounted on each of the spindles or stub 'axles The top of the mast 24 is supportedime. slide-Q ing shoe 35 which slides along the bottom of the boom 10 and whose position is determined by a drum, cable and pulley mechanism 3B"which-h operated by a crank 31 on the mast 24 operating :-v through appropriate reduction gearing as illustr'ated: in' Figf-"s of the-drawings: 'Itis evident thatbyoperati ng the crank -31} the angular rela tion of the" "strut +1 and the mast 24 may be- 'adf juste'd and this in '-turn'w-il-ladjust the heightof the-discharge--*end=ef the b oom l0 'while the receivingend-rests nponwhground, in a man-- ner well:understoodin'this art: i

The features' ei my inventiontogether with their advantages 'will' be obvious from a descriptiGn' ofthe yarious impertant relations ofthe parts and their mode efbperation during various adjustments of the'*loader example;-'as==the* drum, cable-and pulley mechanismfifi is adjusted to rais'e'for lower the diseharge' end of the Hl-it is evident-that theangle'between the strut l1 and the mast -il-will Wary and both-0P these deyioes will pivot," about i the two pivot-pins 2 B. As this addustment takes place, it is important to '--not'e that there will be 110 resulting pivotal I movement ottheaxle assembly-. This is because= of-the particular-melanomapartswhieh I have provided/ a 1 By reference partiouiariy 'to=Fig} 6- of-the draw-'- ing's;-' it will be notedthat -a vertical plane-pass ingthrough the ivot pins zfl also passes through me ns-erase spindle's' or stub *axles A 2 9 I when they are 'in' itheir -laterally extendin i=p0SlltiOHS" in -whi the 'wheelsare im the positions illustrated -'Fi'gs.""-1 3; 4 and ii bfthe drawingsr l- Because of this-partieular relation ef parts ---it j is obvious 'that the weight transferred firom' the been? H1 to": the 'axle' ass'emlelywill be directly belew the pivotal axis ef the -wheels34 ioifl all positions efthe strufi l1=and the mastn and:

consequently therewill he no 1 tendency for the axle frame 22 (ar the l axle assembly to rotate be cause ef adei ustment of the-boom 40;-

This is ofimportance because if rotation oi the axle-frame 2 2 takes pl'ac'e the' axes bf the king pinsgw meve away from' their normai vertical positions and if" such movement takes place and itis desired to swivel =the spindles orstub axles 29 they will be swiveled on arr axis which is bther thamvertical and-= eon sequently the rims of the wheels fl will notre'st evenly-and firmly-on-the ground; 1 There-'- fore 2 have provided-= an arr-angement inwhich} swiveling -of the" spindles meves the wheels 33L- from thir lateraLpositions to forwardly extendinglposition's as indicated in dotted linesin Fig}. 3

ofithe idrawings w- 'rne purpose of: this is to pro'-' vide -for swinging the :bo'om I 0} to' warious dis- 1 charrgingmositidns while th'e 'ileed orfioot end -re-'-= mains-atzi'substantially the -same point; asfor exampleradjacent' a pile: n loaded.

It may also be pointed out that the vertical axes of the king pins 30 lie in the same vertical plane which passes through the axis of the pins 20 and the axis of the spindles 29 when the latter are in their aligned or laterally extending positions. The positioning of the axis of the pivot pins 20 below the normal horizontal axis of spindles iiitnottonly prevents turning; of the axle frame ZZKfandi the axle assemfbly {as the boom [0 is vertically adjusted but it also extends the range of this adjustment while making possible the use of wheels 34 of normal size since the pivotal-axis of said pins 20 is closer to the ground I than is normally the case. This is particularly rusetulsintincmeasing the lowest position to which the dischargecendwf the boom Ill may be adjusted. V

It is alsotobe'noted that the vertical axis of eachking pin 38 passes through substantially the center of the rim of the Wheel 34. This has a further important bearingomtheabove'described -reiatio'rl "of parts and is" an important feature in connection with the'jswiveling of the wheels 3 because as 'SaifijWhel'Sl'34 are swiveled to their {fofwardiyf extending positionsf they .do' not travel in an are of a' circle but "turn'substam tialhfion a point? As a consequence the wheel is not required to roll with half; the weightof -the machine omit during-this swiveling operation." F irthermore; there is frrqleaning rat "the ax1e22 in this construction-whichtherewouldbe in the absence of this alignment, as the wheels are-thus swiveled.-- i

re ma-y be pointedbut particularly by'reference to "Fig": 5 efthe drawings that the spindles 2 9 do not-' pivot "or swivera fullhmdegres and when; the'y'are"extended lateraliy they 'aredn" direct alignment alen'g a horizontal'aids When they areswung ioi'wardl'y to a position illustrated in said Fig. 5, they are tapered outwardlyslightly frm a straight'aheawpositiom-as 'aeonsequence' oh which their axes will intercept at a position were-root:omeeeiving enrl'oftheboom- H] to provide for fre sjwing'i ng mevement"of-saidboom about said s ed ng-p rase to discharge material into variously 'pcsiti'cined receptacles;- Ii

.It hay-further be poin'ted out that the-"ma'st 24 dosnot-mxtend ab'e e the boom l0 aridthe mast and *strut" support: is whatis i generally known in the art-as' thew type-which hasthe advantage of x-iase-*-cf hoisting thebobm, better support for the boom and lack ofafiy' cbstruc tion the reby abotle the' booml Without disturbing the functisuing-of the" p'arts'as -abover described and to"- 'stabilize the axle: 22 rah-em the' -wheels M -are swung "to the dottedtline positions 'of FigE-B, provide a stabl lizer 38a Sai-d stabilizer- 38 'includes' a tuba-39 pivotallyllconnected at the end a bolttlr t-o "a bracket 4| rigidly attachedasby welding-to the top? of the axle trame- 2 2; 'witnini ti e tube 89 issa we Q'Zwonmendbf-Whi'chfis =pivotallylcon nectedebwat'boltni' to a bracket M attached t'o one side of the boom 10 and adjacent the lower portiomthereofm 1 {Ihhuroduifibicttrds loosely through central openings {ofa pair or spaced v pistons or spacers tetanus which aracterised-within the tub-e39 andmreiieid betweenwhe cylindrio'aistops vil ains 48-'whichlare 'rigidl i biit removably heid 1 to 1 the interior surfacemf said tube :39 as by screw's 49.

I S urraunding the rod42 a exteneih tetween the awespaeersnsans :16 is a helical-spring 5o; zQOundf-the springM) and anawitmii the mus ca 1 isia' limit tueeisl'rthe overaii -ieiigth cf-which' is less than the maximum distance between :the; pistons 'or'spacers 45 and 46. Also surrounding the "rod 42 and abutting the spacer 46 is a tube 52 which is preferably rigidly attached to the rod-42 andf abuts a washer 53 preferably'welded to the rod 42 adjacent thehead end thereof.

:-The free end of the rod '42 which is within' the'tube 39 is threaded and receives a pair of nuts 54 which are freeto extendinto the stop 41 and abut the piston '45. Thesspring B urges the parts to the positions illustrated in Fig. '7 of the drawings. However, rod 42 is free to move in opposite directions fromsaid positions against the action of spring 50, and for. 'movement'in either of the opposed directionssaid spring 55 is compressed. For example, if the rod 42 moves to the right, as viewed in Figi 7, the piston or spacer 45-will slide in the tube 39 and compress the spring 50 which abuts the spacer 46. The extent of this sliding movement is limited by the limit tube 5| striking the spacer 46. If rod 42 moves inthe opposite direction, piston or spacer 46- will slide in the tube 39 against the compression. of spring 50 which abuts spacer d5 which is stationary under these operating conditions-. The

limit tube 5] again limits the extent of movement or it may be limited by washer 53.

In operation the stabilizer 38 expands or contracts whatever amount is necessary to maintain the king pins or bolts 30 substantially Vertical as the boom i0 is adjusted. The stabilizer 38 is particularly eifective to maintain this substantially upright positioning of said king pins 30 when the wheels 34 are swung to the dotted line positions illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and I therefore wish not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a portable loader, the combination with a boom, of conveying means on said boom, mechanism for adjusting the elevation of the discharge end of the boom while the receiving end thereof is at a fixed elevation, said mechanism including a horizontal axle, wheels mount ed on said axle for rotation on a horizontal axis offset relative to the axis of said axle, strut means pivotally connected to said axle and boom, mast means also pivotally connected to said axle and boom, means providing the pivotal connections between said axle and said mast and strut along a common horizontal axis which is substantially in a vertical plane passing through the axis of said wheels and below said Wheel axis, and means to adjust the angular relation of said mast and strut to adjust said boom as aforesaid.

2. In a portable loader, the combination with a boom, of conveying means on said boom, mechanism for adjusting the elevation of the discharge end of the boom while the receiving end thereof is at a fixed elevation, said mechanism including a horizontal axle, wheels mounted on said axle for rotation on a horizontal axis ofiset relative to the axis of said axle, strut means pivotally connected to said axle and boom, mast means also pivotally connected to said axle and boom, and means providing'the pivotal con: nections "between said .axle and said mast and strutalong a common horizontal axis which is substantiallyv in a vertical plane passing through the axis of said wheels and below said wheel axis.

3. In a portable; loader, the combination with a boom, of conveying, means on said boom, mechanism-for adjusting the elevation of the discharge end of the boom while the receiving end thereof, is at a fixed elevation, said mechanism including a horizontal axle, wheels mountedon said axle for rotation on a horizontal axis, strut means pivotally connected to said axle and boom, mast means also pivotally connected to saidaxle and boom, means providing the pivotal connections between said axle and said mast and strut along a common horizontal axis which is substantially in a vertical plane passing through the axis of said wheelsand below said wheel axis, and means for pivoting each of said wheels iaboutflupright axes each of which lies in said plane and also lies in a plane passing through the rim of the wheel perpendicularto the horizontal axis uponwhich it is mounted for rotation.

,4. Ina portable loader, thecombination with o a boom, of conveying means on said boom, mechanism for adjusting the elevation of the discharge end of the boom while the receiving end thereof is at a fixed elevation, said mechanism including a horizontal axle, wheels mounted on said axle for rotation on a horizontal axis, strut means pivotally connected to said axle and boom, mast means also pivotally connected to said axle and boom, means providing the pivotal connections between said axle and said mast and strut along a common horizontal axis which is substantially in a vertical plane passing through the axis of said wheels and below said wheel axis,

and means for pivoting each of said wheels about upright axes each of which lies in said plane.

5. In a loader, the combination with a conveyor carrying boom, an axle assembly, wheels mounted on said axle assembly for rotation on a horizontal axis, mast and strut means each pivotally connected to said boom, means independently pivotally connecting the lower ends of said mast and strut means to said axle assembly below the axis of said wheels, means pivotally connecting said wheels to said axl assembly about upright axes, and a stabilizer pivotally connected to said boom and to said axle assembly at a position removed from the position of connection of said strut means thereto. r

6. In a portable loader, the combination with a boom, of conveying means on said boom, mechanism for adjusting the elevation of the discharge end of the boom while the receiving end thereof is at a fixed elevation, said mechanism including a horizontal axle, wheels mounted on said axle for rotation on a horizontal axis, strut means pivotally connected to said axle and boom, mast means also pivotally connected to said axle and boom, means providing the pivotal connections between said axle and said mast and strut along a common horizontal axis which is substantially in a vertical plane passing through the axis of said wheels and below said wheel axis, a stabilizer pivotally connected at opposite ends to said boom and said axle, said stabilizer being adjustable in length, and means for pivoting each of said wheels about upright axes each of which lies in said plane.

7. In a portable loader, the combination with a boom, of conveying means on said boom, mechanlsmfoi 'adiustmg lahe eievaflonzofathe diszma'rge enebofithe boomzwlfile thezreceivmg endzthereot is at m lfixed elevatiom said mechanismrinclud q in a vertioak blane 'passin'g= througfim the axis of said wneexsana below said wheel'axisja stabilizer pivotal ?*connected aft opposit*endsto saici bobtn and s'aid i axle, "-andmeans for qziiwi tizig each 13i said" wheels abootf upright axes'-each? ofwhih' lies 1in sara plane? 8. 1m! porbabi oadefg-thcombifiation with a boomwof c'bnveyin gmeans'onsaid*lidomymecha nisfii for adjusting the 'eievatmn'-of-'the "disoharge end'of who-boom was fixe reoeivfng =endj thereof 1mm fixed elevationy-said mechanism includ in'g a horizontal axle whe'eis -rnou1r1teY-omsaid' axie "f01 mmtmn-wn-a horizontal" axis; "strut mean's pivotaliyconriectedtbsaidaxle and boom; mast means also pivotally connected to said axle and boomrmeans' providing: the"pivota1' "connectiofl'sbeWeen-= said axiei and said mast and strut aaa'vszam along: a commonv horizontal, :axis which sub-" stantiallyxin r'a. vertical planezpassing ;t;hrough the axis: of saidwheels andzbelow said wheel axis; a stabilizer ipivotaliy. iconneched: at: oppositmends to said boom andrsaid ax1e,; said stabilizerxinclud ingx spring means providing.- for automatic: :ach justment c of 1 itsziength, and: means for :pivoting each :of said xivheels': aboutupright oaxeseach'of which lies'uin: saidplane.

9. In a portable. loader; the: =combination: with a boom, of conveyor'. meansxonzsaid :boompmechk anism for adjusting the: elevation-of thadischarge' end' of the boom whiie: the receiving :end. thereof" is .at :a fixed.-elevation, .:said mechanism'inciuding' a horizontal .axle, whieelsrzmounted; on. said..ax1e for rotation on. a horizontal :axis, adjustable strut; means; (tormented-$0 saidi axle :and boom; adjust-r able mast. means :connected to:said axle and: boom, means providingwthe connection 'betweemzsaixi axle. and :said mast and strutxat-ka position which is below: the axis of said wheelsaastabilizer cons: nectedvat opposite ends tovsaid boom :andaxle;

V respectivelmnand meanszpivotally connecting each of said wheels tosaid aax-le fur -adjustment about.

upright;axes;- v

C- S'IEIN-METZ.. 

